This is the second novel in the Carmen Sanchez and Jake Heron Series. This time they are dealing with a serial killer known as The Honeymoon Killer along with an international tech criminal and involves Carmen’s sister Selina. It is an interesting storyline and a fast read.

I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Goodreads, Net Galley, Amazon, and my fiction book review blog.

Right off the bat, let me begin by saying that although there are two plot-points that carry over from the first novel (I assume based on information given as personally have not yet read the first one), this one can be read as a stand-alone. You are given a pretty good sense of the characters and their relationships with one another. It is also easy to follow the plots that have carried over as they are explained with enough detail that it's easy to familiarize yourself with them without it feeling overwhelming. I also enjoyed the way these authors were able to blend the story so seamlessly that it was impossible to tell who wrote what.

However, part of the problem I had was the fact that two of the secondary characters were so over the top that at times, they overshadowed the main characters, and not in a good way. The first being Renyolds; I understand that he was passed over for a promotion and is bitter because of it. But the way they he just cannot let go of his ideas, even when there is no evidence supporting his theory just grated on my nerves. And then you have Carmen's little sister Selina. And man, I get it. She had a lot of grief, a lot of guilt and a lot of rage pent up inside of her, but she had to be one of the dumbest characters that I have read in a while. Not only is she immature, spoiled and selfish, but she runs off into the worst possible situations by herself with no real plan of action. And the way she berated her sister for being unable to stop hunting a serial killer in order to chase down something that happened years ago instantly turned me off of her. In fact, at one point I found myself rooting for her to get exactly what she deserved.

The second problem I had was with the Honeymoon Killer themself. The concept was a good one, murder staged as accidental death. Even his true reason for the murders was an intriguing one, as was just how he came up with the idea. The problem for me became when the murder became fixated on Sanchez and Heron (which I mean is understandable since they meant to stop him), but he became more erratic because of it and his fixation made him lose that spark that had been so intriguing at first. I do also wish we would have gotten more details about the first two murders, as they seemed to only have been thrown in to show there was a pattern. I was also intrigued by not only by Ms. Person of Interest as they called her, but also the woman the Honeymoon Killer met later on and just how they fit into the story.

So far, this book is listed as book 2 of 2, but I definitely see potential for the authors to continue on with this as a series, and if that is the case, I will definitely read more from them.

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

Agent Sanchez and computer intrusionist/hacker Heron are after the Honeymoon Killer in the latest novel by Deaver/Maldonado and Tristan Kane who escaped their capture from book 1. Justice is taken care of by the duo, with the help of some colleagues. The book was good, but not great...but the closing chapters did have some poetic justice. Can be read as a stand alone, but might as well read book 1 first, before Sept. 9th. Looking forward to book 3 from Deaver/Maldonado.
Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC and my review.

The Grave Artist is the 2nd book in the Heron & Sanchez series. One is a Homeland Security Agent and the other is an "intrusionist" (aka hacker). They are called in to investigate the death of a groom at his reception. At first it appears as an accident, but they quickly realize that isn't the case and that it is connected to two other murders in Italy. They name the suspect the Honeymoon Killer or HK. HK doesn't murder for fun, but to watch the spouses grieve at the funeral. When Heron and Sanchez interrupt his routine and prevent another murder, HK turns his attention on them and causing them grief.

There are a couple of subplots, and I believe that one may carry over from the first book which I haven't read. This book can be read as a stand alone, but I do feel like you may be missing a few things from the first book.

The action is fast paced, it keeps you guessing until the very end, and the twist and turns in the last quarter of the book will leave you in shock and awe. After reading this, I plan to go back and read the first book in the series and hope that they continue to do more. I wouldn't expect anything less from two great authors like these.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

#NetGalley #TheGraveArtist

"The Grave Artist" plunges readers into a high-stakes investigation led by the unconventional team of Homeland Security's Carmen Sanchez and "intrusionist" Jake Heron. They are tasked with stopping the "Honeymoon Killer," a murderer with a chillingly unique motive: he orchestrates the deaths of newlyweds to revel in the sorrow of the surviving spouses. The narrative is a fast-paced thrill ride, filled with short, action-packed chapters and an ending that delivers a significant twist. A key feature is that the killer's identity is known to the reader early on, creating a tense game of "how will they be caught?" rather than a classic whodunit. While the book succeeds as a gripping standalone thriller, a common critique is its tendency to juggle too many subplots, from office politics to intricate family backstories. This complexity can sometimes feel convoluted, but the core storyline and the evolving dynamic between the two protagonists provide a strong foundation that keeps readers hooked.

I read this book not realizing it was part of a series but I don’t feel I missed anything. This book had great characters and a compelling story. I had a hard time putting it down. I plan to go back and read the 1st book in the series. I highly recommend this book. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

The second installment in the series functions effectively as a standalone narrative. It delivers an engaging suspenseful experience, even though I was aware of the identity of the serial killer. In fact, I found it quite intriguing to delve into the thought processes of the unsettling antagonist. Additionally, the book excels as a procedural featuring federal agents. The pacing is brisk, complemented by a diverse cast of characters that I thoroughly enjoyed. I eagerly anticipate the next entry in the series.

This is a really solid 2nd book in a series for these authors. I really love both of these and they do work well together. I just wish that there are more scenes of Carmen and Jake investigating together more. Can’t wait for a book 3 if there is a book 3.

Special thanks to NetGalley for the arc of this book.

This is pure perfection! I have nothing to critique. Standing ovations!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this ARC. All opinions are my own.

Sanchez and Heron are a fun duo to follow. This mystery was fast-paced and kept me wanting to keep reading. The villain in this one was dark and twisted, but I didn't find the book to be graphic. I enjoyed the white hat hacking piece and the justice at the end. Overall I recommend.

I'm a huge Isabella Maldonado fan and the stories I've read prior to this have grabbed my attention. However, it was very difficult to follow up on this particular one. It turned out very complicated and more "techie" than I cared for. That is not to say it isn't a great book. The fact of the matter is that it's getting a bit harder for me to read (now at 77 y/o) and battling stage 4 cancer.

Thank you #The Grave Artist #Net Galley for the AC!

Yolie McLaughlin

I really enjoyed this collaboration between Jeffery Deaver and Isabella Maldonado. The characters were well crafted and the storyline was fast paced. I would recommend this book and will look for this collaboration in future.

The Grave Artist follows Homeland Security Investigations agent Carmen Sanchez and "intrusionist" Jake Heron as they investigate a serial killer known as the "Honeymoon Killer". (In case you're wondering, there are no spiders in this one.😉) The killer in this book targets newlyweds, making the murders appear to be accidents. When Carmen and Jake pursue the killer, he decides to pursue them. Now HE's hunting those hunting HIM!

I liked The Grave Artist, but I think I would have loved it had there been a little less going on. The primary storyline was fascinating. The second storyline was interesting, too. There was a bit of a third storyline, as well, about Russia. As someone wrote in their review, Too much "just happens." I agree. And some parts felt a little forced. (I guess there was a fourth storyline, too, with a little romance.)

The last part of the book made me smile. It's nice to have something to look forward to.

Thank you, #ThomasAndMercer, for providing this book for review and consideration via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own. The Grave Artist has an expected publication date of September 9, 2025.

#Crime #Mystery #Suspence #StrongFemaleProtagonist

I read this as a standalone as I didn't realise it was part of a series, however, I don't feel like that hindered me, all it has made me want to do is go and read the first one. I loved it, the writing drew me in from the first page and gripped me all the way through I couldn't put it down

Thank you, Thomas & Mercer, for providing the copy of The Grave Artist by Jeffery Deaver; Isabella Maldonado. I am a big fan of Maldonado and I loved her last collaboration with Deaver , so I jumped at the chance to read this book and revisit the adventures of Sanchez and Heron.The main story was great! I loved the killer’s background and the reason for the murders was intriguing. I liked the killer’s POV more than the chapters about the investigation, but as the investigation went on, it got more interesting. There was a little too much going on in this book, but the reveals were amazing, and I loved the characters. This is a great read and I can’t wait to see what Sanchez and Heron get up to next! 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

The Grave Artist is book 2 in the Sanchez & Heron series. Though The Grave Artist contains some references to occurrences from Fatal Intrusion (book 1) it can be read as a stand alone story.
I found the concept of a serial killer using murder as performance art to be interesting. Unfortunately, I found this novel to be lacking in execution. Too much "just happens."
The Grave Artist is a quick read that, in my opinion, could be much better

This book written by talented authors is a quick read. Realistic characters keep the story moving quickly.
Red herrings and secrets…Do not try to guess the ending too soon. It is not easily accomplished. Thanks Netgalley

This is the second in a series by Deaver and Maldonado about Sanchez and Heron. It's just as action-packed and thrilling as the first book in the series was!

Book 2 finds Sanchez and Heron chasing a "honeymoon killer" whose obsession is creating tableaus, works of art, with his death scenes.

The story is dark and suspenseful, and the characters of Sanchez and Heron continue to evolve as we learn more about their individual histories. Of course, they find themselves in some steamy moments, but the "will they or won't they" dance continues without a resolution. Yet.

Maldonado writes strong female leads you can really cheer for. Her voice comes through with its usual strength in this book. I couldn't stop reading even though not putting it down meant it was over much more quickly than I would have liked. I hope this series will continue - I want to see what's next for Sanchez and Heron!

Wowza.

What a crazy ride. I am a HUGE fan of Isabella Maldonado, this is my second book by Jeffrey Deaver. This follow up book did not disappoint. It was fast paced with great characters. I really hope we see more of Sanchez & Heron.

I thought Jeffery Deaver quit writing. I couldn't find any new books in the library. Turns out his books are no longer translated. And now i’ve found this one. The Lincoln Rhyme series was my favorite one. This series is good too but the characters stil have to grow a bit on me. The are well developed, the storyline is good, there's suspense and twists. An interesting and entertaining read.
I received .n advance review copy via Netgalley/Thomas & Mercer and I’m leaving a voluntary and honest review.